Both sides of the street
I have a perspective from both sides of this argument. I served 20 years in the AF, all in IT. After leaving the service, I went into private industry eventually working a contract in IT. While I was employed, there was always the end of the contract coming up. I like job security and contracts were not it. I finally went internal with the company I was contracted from and became the lead for network operations in one of the regions. I was with this company 13 years, had brought in updates and modernization to the network and server evironment. I originally had 2 people working for me then one was laid off since the work load had decreased. Stayed that way for the next 8 years. The person that worked with me took an opportunity out of state and a new guy was hired. The new guy had taken month long vacations twice during which time I ran the region by myself. If I needed assistance fromt the main corporate team, I would let them know but, for the most part, I was able to keep things running smoothly. Fast forward to March 2009. Obama is now in office, the economy is getting worse and the company decides to lay off associates. Did they keep the person who knew the region well, works good with everyone, can run the region by himself when necessary, no, they keep the new guy, 2 years with the company who has major problems with multi-tasking and directions. 13 years I had there, staying on top of and ahead of technology but ultimatley, the all mighty dollar saw fit to lay me off. The saved 10 to 15K maybe but lost tons in having to pay other workers to drive an hour and a half to help the person they kept. Now I work for the state which has a union. You know what, I wish there was a union where I was. I liked the job but was taken out by economics, not skill or experience or even bright new ideas. Unions may not be perfect but, when you have senority and get the shaft, the look mighty appealing.
